STATEMENT ON THE ZOGBY/STOCKTON POLL

CHERRY HILL -- Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Robert E. Andrews' campaign chairman, Michael Murphy, issued the following statement today regarding a Zogby International poll showing a surge in opposition among Democrats to nominating Sen. Frank Lautenberg for a fifth term in the June 3 primary:

"This speaks volumes about what the voters think about returning Frank Lautenberg to the Senate for yet another six years. They want to move on," Murphy said. "You'd think that the senator, after nearly a quarter-century in office, would have voters in his own party clamoring to keep him in office. But more than half of them say it's time for him to go and make way for new leadership. If so many Democrats think he's been in office long enough, how can he possibly expect to win in November?"

"The numbers don't lie," Murphy said. "Frank Lautenberg just doesn't have what it takes to run for yet another term against the Republicans this fall. This and other polls show that overwhelming numbers of voters don't believe he should be in that office for 30 years. A seat in the United States Senate is not a birthright. It has to be earned."

Murphy added: "This campaign shows why Frank Lautenberg should not be our party's candidate yet again this year. More and more Democrats are discouraged by his inconsistencies on some of the critical issues facing our state and nation. They are also disturbed by his continuing refusal to debate Congressman Andrews on those issues. Democrats believe it's time for a change, and Rob Andrews represents that change."